Shoe heel



July 8, 1947; w. w. BROOKS SHOE HEEL 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I Filed March 11, 1946 mVENTbR. William W Brooks July 8, 1947- w. w. BROOKS SHOE HEEL Filed March 11, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 0 W w w W Patented July 8, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 14 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in shoes and more particularly to heels and heel attachments thereto.

'One of the objects of this invention is to provide a simple, efficient and inexpensive heel lamination for the purpose of building into the "heel shock-absorbing qualities as well as tread resiliency which will be effective to impart to the steps taken by the wearer of such shoe a springiness and traction comfort which would not exist otherwise.

Another object thereof is to provide a shoe heel with an attachment thereto which provides comfort in walking, which absorbs all shocks imposed on the wearers foot in walking, and which definitely imparts to the shoe better traction qualitieedue to equalized resiliency and counterbalanced heft.

increase the efiectiveness of the same for better traction purpose.

A final object thereof is to provide a resilient mounting to the .under surface of the 'shoeheel so shaped and arrangedand sooperating as not only to enhance better traction on the; part of the shoe wearer but also to effectuall absorb all shocks and cushionallimpacts occasionedby the prolonged walking or standing of the shoe wearer,

whilst improving upon his posture in so doing.

With the above and .other objects in view, my

invention consists in the combination, arrangement and details of construction disclosed in the drawings, and then more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, wherein similar reference characters designatesimilar parts throughout the respective views,

Figure 1 is a fragmental elevation 'of a .shoe showing one form of my invention attached thereto,

Figure 2 is a bottom'plan view of Figure 1,

-gFigure 3 is a top plan view of the heel lamina- "ti'on proper,

Figure 4 :is a sectional detail view of a heel and lamination attached thereto, in which a semispherical tread element is shown encased in 'a-metal liner, Figure 5 is a side elevation of said liner,

1 Figure 6 is abottom plan view of the liner,

Figure 7 is a fragmental elevation of a Shfle showing another form of my invention attached to the heel thereof,

Figure :8 is a bottom plan view of the lamination shown in Figure 7, c

Figure 9 is a longitudinal sectional view of the heel lamination attached thereto, in one form,

Figure 10 is a side elevational of a semispherical rubber cushion,

Figure His ,2. side elevation of a semispherical :rubber tread element cooperating with the part shown in Figure 10, and

Figuret12 is :a plan view of a washer.

In the drawings, which are merely illustrative of my invention, 1 disclose the parts of my invention; The shoe is broadly designated A, having the leather bottom sole B to which is attached the usual heelportion 10. The heel portion ID will be made somewhat thinner than usual because it will have in surmounted relation in contact with its under surface a lamination I2; the heel has the 'usual front and concave edge H and the lamination I2, being shaped to the same outline as the heel also has the same concave recess l3, which registers with recess 1 l, as shown in Figure 1.

In one form of my invention, illustrated in Figures '1 and,2 I showthe upper surface of the lamination 12 (formed with a counterseat l4 shaped similarly to that of the lamination so that there may be snugly seated therein a metal plate 15,

.flush withiits upper surface, which metal plate wilLconta'ct the under surface of the leather heel til! at the same time other ,parts of the lamination do. As a means of attaching the lamination to the .heel I take elongated nails .25 and drive them home through lamination [2,metal plate |5,, shoe heel J0 an'dfsole B of the shoe. The heads -21 of the :nails are countersunk into the lamination l2 zby .proj'ectin'gxinto c'ounterseatsi l found therein while the .nails enter holes .25 therein,

' Theilamina'tion may be composedof any suitable material known'in the shoemaking, art, according 'toythewea'ring sturdiness required, preferably not rubber. Thehe'el, before it is secured uponthe shoe proper is formed with .a centrally disposed series of semispherical cavities 18 such that their largestdiameters open out from the underside.thereof,.remote from the shoe upper.

The lamination i2 is alsoformed with a series of semi-spherical openings whose largest diameters 22 open but of the upper surface thereof and whose lesser diameters 23 open out from theunder surface thereof, as 'fully disclosed in stubs Figure 9. An annular recess is formed between the wall of each cavity and the adjacent surface shown in Figure 9 the lamination I2 is formed '1 marginally thereof with a series of cylindrical tiny sockets 24 opening out from the under surgame ' them in place.

the under surface of the lamination I2, these tread elements cannot work loose and become displaced from these semi-spherical openings. vulcanization may be resorted to to further hold After the lamination is attached to the heel, in the manner already explained, it will be seen that the outer terminals of the fin 28 and recessed portions intervening between them will be the parts that will make contact firmly with the surface the shoe wearer is engaging in walking or standing, and in order to en- "hance and equalize as well as counterbalance the face thereof, which sockets communicate with holes which opens out of the upper surface of the lamination and communicate with the large area counterseat I4 therein also on its upper surface. The lamination, after being placed in contact with under surface of the heel, receives the long nails 26 which are driventhrough counterbores 25 of the sockets, so as to pass through washers 20, which underlie metal'plate I5,.:and extend into the shoe heel lflproper, the heads 21 of these nails being snugly received into the inner ends of tiny sockets 24 of the lamination l2; This firmly attaches the lamination upon the shoe heel. Before attaching the lamination, however, to the shoe heel there will be lodged in both the heel and lamination the complemental'resilient means which are to serve both as shock-absorbing cushions as well as resilient tread elements for the shoe heel. .In Figure 10'there is shown a globular part, being a rubber semispherical body I6 formed with a central semispherical bore ll therein; in Figure 11' is disclosed a'rubbersemispherical tread element I9 to cooperate with the cushion shown in Figure 10, which semispherical termost plane ridge 28a. of the tread elements are reached. It is obvious that better traction is had, better antiskid bearing between the shoe and the sidewalk it treads on by formation of the fins and recesses, especially when walking is done on snow, ice, etc. The radius of each rubber cushion I6 is greater than the thickness of the heel ID, that of tread element I9 is greater than the thickness of lamination I2.

The semispherical rubber cushions I6 are taken and-snugly laid in the cavities I8 of the underside of heel I0 ofthe shoe so they project with portions D beyond the inner side of the heel and have their base portions flush with the other side of heel ID. The series of rubber tread elements I9 are then taken and the'elements are inserted into the recess openings 22 of the lamination I2 in such a manner that their semispherical l9a will project through corresponding openings N formed in the metal plate I5, into the semispherical bores I! of the rubber cushions IS. The base. portions of tread elements I9 abut the under side of metal plate I5. Abutting the upper side of these plates are the base portionsof the rubber cushions I6 whereby their peripheral portions E project above the upper surface of heel Iii. Due to the fact that the major radial portions of the tread elements I9 are seated in the recesses 22, and the minor portions thereof project beyond at the same time.

traction imparted to these rubber tread elements and to improve the wearing qualities of the lamination to which they are attached, I form marginally ofthe lamination so as to skirt these said tread lements a plurality of spaced apart semispherical skids 33 which are rounded in shape and formed with similar fins and intervening depressions already noted. 'All of these semispherical skids, large and small contact-the undersurface which is engaged by the heel of the shoe; all However, knowingthat one side of'the heel will ordinarily wear out faster than the other I have multiplied the number of tiny skids33 on the left side of the heel lamination I2 with relation to the number providedupon the right side thereof, as shown clearlyin Figure 2, which also has the effect to steadythe even tread of the rubber tread elements so the heel makes contact with the roadwayunder an even keel most of the time. 1

In order to reinforce and increasethe life of the semispherical rubber tread elements I9 I may provide therefor dish-shaped metal liners 29 formed with base flanges 39 as shown in Figure 5. In mounting these liners,. in position, they are seated snugly in theopenings 22--23 of the lamination with their base flanges countersunk therein as illustrated in Figure 4. This having been done, semispherical rubber elements I9 will then be seated in them snugly. Whether these elements I9 are seated in thelinersor not; itwill be seen that at the inner planes of the grooves'or depressions intervening between .thefins .28are shoulders 32 disposed in a planeat right angles with respect to their stems I9 these are the points where compressibility of the tread elements have aligning holes R in them in whichvulcaniz ing material may be poured hot :as' a means. of homogeneously uniting all of the'rings. :iAsshown in Figure 4 these rings are graduated in diameter towards the outer end of the tread element I9 the lowermost ring of least diameter is formed fiat as at S, the uppermost ring PII- offlargest diameter carries the semisphericalistud I'9a. This composite tread elementis shown seated in thec'onicalliner3fl. 77.1.17.

'From the foregoing it is obviousthat there is provided a shoe heel adapted to Withstand rough usage, severe impacts, and unequal wear. When the nails 26 are driven through the heel I0 into the shoe sole B, it presses the heel and this in .5 marshes i the p fqtrudineihds of the semi- "sp erical cushion ;-elehi ents ER: against the shoe sole so'here direct resiliency is felt. The shoe wearer equipped "with my invention 'on the heels *o'f'the'shoe' assumespa better posture whether stai ding or engaged in locomotion because the "multiplicity o'f closely contiguous tiny skids 33 "formed on the "left side of the heel, cooperating with the. relatively larger anti-skid tread elements 1 9jimpartfjto the heelan equalized, counterbalanced feifect resulting in no drag upon any part of the heel which would promote uneven wear, 'or' cause uneven weight tobe applied. by the foot muscles with respect "to others, "ngtoinconvenience the shoe wearer and en ta ngjf'aultyposture. 'l-ilso walking, should th'e ove'l h'eel encounter ice, snow for irregulari- Tue inthe pavement'for walking surface, 'thegrip of the heel will be firm and'steady resilient, be-

"cause ofjthe'groove'd rubberconstituency of the skidsanrl tread elements. Theheel lamination willg ive yieldably, and the rubber tread elements 19, under pressure of the weight of the wearers feet, will mash the fins 28,-an'd peripheral upper portions of cushion elements I 6, between the fins .d'irt, packed snow particles and foreign particles thatbtherwise 'mi'ghtbecom'e embedded into the rubber elements themselves; "and these elements 'inay'with some degree of frictionalso'rotate in their heel bearing'sfdu'eto studs [9A being lodged in the. rubber 'cushionsin the heel; in pressing back on these tread elements, they dilate in openings 22-23, causing rubber studs 19A to enlarge which squeezes rubber cushions 16, which exert 'a shock absorbing action on the shoe sole B. Any

part of the assembly of coacting rubber and non rubber but pliable material such as leather or composition matter which is relatively thin and separated from adjacent surfaces may effectively be vulcanized so as to -fill 'all'voids with cement rubber and otherwise brace these thin spots.

I do not intend to confine myself to the exact details of construction set forth and illustrated herein but intend to cover all variations falling within the purview of the appended claims. For example, the same advantages would attend employing any simple feature of my invention upon a conventional rubber heel or heel of any other construction to increase the wearability and convenience thereof.

What I claim is:

1. A shoe having a heel and a heel lamination of the same contour as the heel and operatively attached thereto overlappingly, a washer interposed between the heel and its lamination, and a plurality of globular rubber tread elements rotatably mounted in said heel and heel lamination and having radiating fins formed thereupon as tread surfaces spaced beow said lamination, and means confining said globular elements within said lamination.

2. A shoe having a heel lamination shaped to the same contour of the heel and mounted exteriorly therefor, said lamination being chambered out at spaced apart points across the effective tread area of the lamination to provide its under-side, a washer plate counter sunk "into said lamination and also contacting :said

heel, said lamination being formed marginally with a plurality of spaced apart compressible globular tinyelemen ts projecting below its under "surface, and a plurality of rubber globular tread elements rotatedly anchored into both heel and lamination and having radially disposed fins projecting out of said lamination below its under surface. h

eoir'ibi nationwi th ashoe and itsheel, a

" lamination secured to said heel against its under "surface, globular rubber elements imbedded into "said heel, globular rubber elements having stems extending yieldablyin to said first named rubber elements, and having outermost radially extendingfins projecting below the lamination and retatedly confined in the latter.

5. Incombination with ashoe and its heelp'a lamination of lesser thickness than the heelsecured in contact with its under surface, said lamination being formed marginally with a pluralityof integral convex tread elements of tiny construction, and being also formed so as to be also but projecting terminally below the lamination to the same distance 'therebelow that the convex; elements project therebelow.

In combination with 'a shoe having a heel and a lamination secured thereto,-said 'heel and lamination being formed with aseries of complem'ental spherical cavities, 'oneset' of semispherical c'avi'ties' bein'g formed in the heel and another in the lamination in communicating relationship, semispherical rubber cushions seated in the cavities of the heel and having central bores, globular rubber tread elements seated in the cavities of the lamination and having rod-like stems projecting yieldably into the bores of the cushions, and a series of radially disposed downwardly extending peripheral fins formed upon the lower parts of the globular tread elements and projecting below the lamination to be directly tread upon in service of the shoe.

7. In combination with a shoe heel, a heel lamination having a countersunk washer plate therein contacting the heel, being fastened directly into the heel, means affixing the lamination upon the under surface of the heel, said heel being formed with a plurality of semiglobular cavities having their largest diameters opening out of the under side of the heel, said lamination being formed with a plurality of annular cavities in line with the other cavities having inner large diameters opening out of the upper surface of the lamination and smaller diameters opening out from the under side thereof, semispherical rubber cushions seated snugly in the cavities of the heel flush with its under side, semispherical rubber tread elements of a depth greater than the depth of the lamination cavities seated in the latter with their largest diameters flush with the upper surface of the lamination and their smallest diameters projecting below the under surface thereof, central stems on the tread elements projecting into the centers of the cushion, and means holding the lamination against displacement from said heel.

, 8. In an article of the kind described, the combination of a sectional heel, a plurality of sectional globular members partly rotatedly encased in each section of the heel, with extensions of one set entered into the other set of rubber members yieldingly, one set of rubber members projecting beyond the sectional "heel to be directly tread upon, and means attaching both sections of the heel together,

9. A sectional heel for shoes having a plurality of spherically solid rubber tread elements partially and rotatedly projecting into both sections of the heel, whereby pressure upon one point of all rubber tread elements imparts transmittingly resiliency against the diametrically opposite points thereof within the heel, said tread elements projecting rotatedly beyond the sectional heel, a series of tiny rubber tread skids formed upon one of the sections of the heel extending down to the :same level as the projecting portions of said spherically solidrubber elements.

10. In combination with a shoe heel, a lamination thereon having a countersunk recess, a plate seated in said recess flush with its adjacent surface, nails securing said plate to said heel, said lamination being attached to said heel so as to conceal the nails, and a plurality of semispherical rubber tread elements having the major radial portion thereof seated in said lamination and a minor portion thereof projecting below the same;

11. In combination with a shoe heel, a lamination secured thereto, a plate counterseated in said lamination contacting said heel, and a plurality of semispherical rubber tread elements having its major radius seated in said lamination with its flat surfaces contacting said plate and having its minor radius projecting below the lamination and formed with a circumferential series of fins.

12. In combination with a shoe heel, a lamina- .tion having a series of semi-spherical cavities formed therein with their larger diameters opening out of its top surface and smaller diameters opening out of the opposite under surface, metal liners mounted in said cavities, and semispherical rubber tread elements having stems anchored into the heel and outer rounded finned surfaces projecting below the lamination, being seated in said liners.

13. In combination with a shoe heel a lamination having cylindrical tiny sockets, and a series of semi-spherical openings, said heel formed with semispherical cavities with their larger diameters opening out of its under surface, a plate counterseated in said lamination contacting said heel, nails passing through said plate into said heel and having heads snugly lodged in said tiny sockets, semispherical rubber cushions lodged in said cavities of the heel and having central bores, and semispherical rubber tread elements seated in the semi-spherical openings of the lamination with their lower ends projecting beyond the laminationto form skids, and stems formed upon the tread elements snugly received in the bores of the cushions.

14. As a new article of manufacture a heel lamination formed with a series of semi-spherical openings, and with tiny cylindrical sockets having narrow central counterbores opening out of the lamination, and a counterseat extending over the effective area of the lamination.

WILLIAM W. BROOKS.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Church Dec. 26, 1911 Number 

